Membranes prepared by radiation grafting of binary monomers for adsorption of heavy metals from industrial wastes

Preparation of synthetic membranes using simultaneous radiation grafting of acrylic acid (AAc) and styrene (Sty) as individually and in binary monomer mixture onto low density polyethylene (LDPE) has been carried out. The effect of preparation conditions such as irradiation dose, monomer concentration, comonomer composition, and solvent on the grafting yield was investigated. Characterization and some properties of the prepared membranes using different analytical techniques are studied, accordingly the possibility of its practical use in industrial waste treatment is determined. The swelling behavior, electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the membranes were investigated as a function of the grafting degree. The prepared cation-exchange membranes possessed good electrical and mechanical properties, high thermal stability and possess good characteristics for separation processes. These membranes have also good affinity toward the adsorption or chelation with Fe3+ and pb(2+) ions either in mixture containing other metals or if exists alone in the waste solution. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.